Case History: Naw Ohn Hla
Naw Ohn Hla and other HRDs work for the promotion of human rights and environmental rights. She has repeatedly called for the suspension of the Chinese-backed Letpadaung mining project in Burma's Sagaing region. The project is strongly opposed by local communities due its damaging effect on the environment.
Naw Ohn Hla is a prominent advocate for land rights and political prisoners, and has been imprisoned on more than seven occasions since 1989, as a result of her peaceful efforts to free political prisoners and assist Buddhist monks during the 2007 uprising.
On 15 May 2015, six HRDs, including Naw Ohn Hla, received sentences of one year for rioting (Article 147 of the Penal Code), one year for assault or use of criminal force to deter a public servant from discharging his or her duty (Article 353), two years for making statements causing undue public fear or alarm (Article 505(b)), and four months for protesting without prior permission, under Article 18 of the Peaceful Assembly Law.
Naw Ohn Hla has been a human rights defender and land rights activist for decades. She has been active in campaigning against the Letpadaung mining project in northern Burma, and is co-founder of the Rangoon-based Democracy & Peace Women Network.
She also campaigned for the release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi while the opposition leader was under house arrest. The human rights defender has been imprisoned more than seven times since 1989 for her peaceful efforts to free political prisoners and assist Buddhist monks during the 2007 uprising.
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- 15 May 2015 : Human rights defenders sentenced to four years and four months in prison
- 7 April 2015 : Human rights defender Naw Ohn Hla sentenced to four months in prison
- 23 January 2015 : Detention of six human rights defenders participating in a peaceful protest
- 5 November 2013 : Imprisoned human rights defender, Naw Ohn Hla, faces additional charges related to campaigns for land rights
- 5 September 2013 : Human rights defender Ms Naw Ohn Hla sentenced to two years in prison with hard labour
On 15 May 2015, the Dagon Township Court in Rangoon sentenced human rights defenders Ms Daw Naw Ohn Hla, Ms Daw Sein Htwe, Ms Daw San San Win (also known as “Lay Lay”) and Messrs Ko Nay Myo Zin, Ko Tin Htut Paing and Ko Thant Zin to four years and four months' imprisonment.
The six human rights defenders work for the promotion of human rights and environmental rights in particular. They have repeatedly called for the suspension of the Chinese-backed Letpadaung mining project in Burma's Sagaing region. The project is strongly opposed by local communities due its damaging effect on the environment. Naw Ohn Hla is a prominent advocate for land rights and political prisoners, and has been imprisoned on more than seven occasions since 1989, as a result of her peaceful efforts to free political prisoners and assist Buddhist monks during the 2007 uprising.
The charges against the human rights defenders are based on their participation in a peaceful protest at the Chinese Embassy in Rangoon, which took place on 30 December 2014. The protest was attended by more than 100 people, and called on the Myanmar authorities to carry out an investigation into the death of Ms Khin Win, who was shot dead on 22 December 2014 when police opened fire on a group demonstrating against the Letpadaung mining project. Daw Naw Ohn Hla, Daw Sein Htwe, Ko Nay Myo Zin and Ko Tin Htut Paing were arrested at the demonstration.
On 2 April 2015, Burmese human rights defender Ms Naw Ohn Hla was sentenced to four months in prison after being found guilty of violating the Peaceful Assembly Law during a protest on 29 September 2014.
The Dagon Township court will also charge Naw Ohn Hla for violating Penal Code articles 505(b), which prohibits statements likely to harm public tranquility, and 353, which covers the use of assault or criminal force to hinder a public servant. Both charges carry a maximum prison term of two years. She will appear at Dagon Township court on 14 April 2015 to face these charges.
On 20 January 2015, a new charge was brought against human rights defenders Ms Daw Naw Ohn Hla, Ms Daw Sein Htwe, Ms Daw San San Win (also known as “Lay Lay”) and Messrs Ko Nay Myo Zin, Ko Tin Htut Paing and Ko Thant Zin. They have been charged with various offences, including protesting without permission, and have been in detention since their arrest on 30 December 2014 for participating in a peaceful protest against the shooting and killing of a protester the week before.
The six human rights defenders were informed of the fresh charge when they appeared in the second hearing of the trial against them. The charges relate to their participation in a protest of approximately 100 people in front of the Chinese Embassy in Yangon on 30 December 2014. They were calling on the Myanmar authorities to carry out an investigation into the death of Ms Khin Win, who was shot dead on 22 December 2014 when police opened fire on a group demonstrating against the Letpadaung mining project. Daw Naw Ohn Hla, Daw Sein Htwe, Ko Nay Myo Zin and Ko Tin Htut Paing were arrested at the demonstration and Daw San San Win and Ko Thant Zin presented themselves to the authorities and were detained on 13 and 20 January 2015, respectively. Ms Daw Mya Nyunt has also been charged, but remains at liberty.
Human rights defender, Ms Naw Ohn Hla, is facing thirty-three additional charges in relation to her work protecting land rights in Burma. In August 2013, she was sentenced to two years' imprisonment for 'disturbing public tranquillity'.
Naw Ohn Hla is due to stand trial for these charge in six township courts in Yangon, namely: Botataung Township, Kyauktada Township, Pabedan Township, Sanchaung Township, Bahan Township, and Mingala Taungnyunt Township. She was due to be transferred to Insein prison in Yangon by the end of October 2013, but the Burmese Minister of Home Affairs has prevented the transfer.
Naw Ohn Hla remains detained in Mandalay prison.
On 29 August 2013, human rights defender Ms Naw Ohn Hla was found guilty of disturbing public tranquillity under Section 505(b) of the Burmese Penal Code and sentenced to two years in prison with hard labour. She had been arrested on 13 August 2013 during a peaceful protest.
The trial of the human rights defender began on 27 August and ended within three days. In addition to her conviction for disturbing peaceful tranquillity, she remains to be tried under Section 18 of the Peaceful Assembly and Peaceful Procession Law for allegedly holding a protest without permission. She had in fact requested official permission prior to the protest, but was refused.
Naw Ohn Hla was forcibly arrested by the police on 13 August 2013 near the Letpadaung copper mine. The human rights defender and 50 local villagers had gathered in Monywa to call for the suspension of the Chinese-backed Letpadaung mine and to amend the 2008 Constitution. They were surrounded by several hundred police officers while protesting. After a tense stand-off, police moved in to arrest Naw Ohn Hla and nine other protesters, pulling them into the back of police trucks. Naw Ohn Hla was seized so violently that her clothing was partially pulled off.
